Sorcha McCartan delivers for Cork
PwC GPA Player of the Month for August in camogie, Sorcha McCartan, Cork, with her award at PwC’s offices in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
When St Finbarr's were beaten in the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Final replay by Athenry, Sorcha McCartan waited and wondered.
There was an opportunity to travel with friends, but by the end of January, McCartan opted to remain with Cork. Ger Manley was stitching a team of emerging and established players together again.
McCartan opted to stay. A dynamic display in the decider against Galway illustrated McCartan's relevance to the Cork cause. "When the club season finished, that went to a replay, and for myself, anyway, I can find it very hard to get myself going, to find that drive to keep going," McCartan reflects.
"I definitely took longer to make my decision. Once I decided I was going to stay in Cork, there was no way I wasn't going to play.
"Ger Manley approached me a few times and he told me there is a spot for me if I worked hard enough for it. Obviously, the first few months were very difficult. We stuck together and ground it out, really."
Having lost the 2025 All-Ireland decider against Galway, the feeling after this year's final was joy rather than pain. "100 per cent, when you lose it's very hard to get the motivation back to go into the club and stuff," McCartan replies.
"You keep on looking back on mistakes, things you could've done differently. When you win, you don't care about any of the mistakes or what you did wrong on the day. You're just so happy.
"We've had a great couple of days with each, we were back in club championship then last night. So, there is a quick turnaround. You don't get to spend too much time enjoying it, but we're extremely happy. It doesn't make up for the loss of last year, but it definitely helps in a way.
Sorcha McCartan, Cork, and Róisín Black, Galway, in action during the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Injuries and club commitments ensured Cork had to afford emerging players opportunities in the league. Ultimately, it worked out in the end for Manley and his management team. "100 per cent, the likes of Millie (Condon) and Ava (Fitzgerald), even Orla Cremin, the younger girls, that step up, there was no choice," McCartan says.
"It gave them a lot of confidence towards the end of the year. They knew they'd just as much work done if not more than the rest of us.
"I know Ashling (Thompson) got injured in the middle of the league, but we had Amy O'Connor, who was injured in the league, we'd Meabh Cahalane, who was only coming back in.
"The likes of myself, Laura Hayes, and Saoirse (McCarthy), we came in during the later stages. They'd to really step up to be leaders before we were ready. They were well able and their performances in the All-Ireland final showed that."
McCartan acknowledges the significant contribution made by Manley and his selectors. "They've been unbelievable," McCartan says.
"Anything we've asked for, they've given to us. Ger treats us all as if we're his daughters, he's such a gentle giant. He's so good to us, he's harsh when he needs to be, but he really looks out for us, and looks after us. I think he just wanted the best for us and wanted us to win.
"You've James Nyhan and Gemma O'Connor, who really pushed us as hard as they could during training. James never doubted for one second.
"Even when we were having those losses, that we'd be in an All-Ireland final, he told us every day we're going to be in an All-Ireland final. He wasn't far wrong."